Norway to build world's first ship tunnel through mountain

Norway is embarking on an ambitious and unprecedented engineering feat: the Stad Ship Tunnel, designed to allow large sea vessels to pass through a mountain.

The Stad Cape on the Stadlandet peninsula is notorious for its treacherous weather, with strong storms and high waves making the route a constant challenge for captains. This new tunnel offers a solution, allowing ships to use a protected passage through the mountain instead of navigating the open sea around the cape.

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The tunnel will be about 1.8 kilometers long and 37 meters wide, which will allow even large cruise ships to pass.

The tunnel will measure approximately 1.8 kilometers in length and 37 meters in width, capable of accommodating even large cruise ships up to 140 meters long and weighing 16,000 tons. The primary goal is to significantly enhance maritime traffic safety.

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The project was approved back in 2017, but it was on the verge of cancellation several times due to exploding costs.

Originally approved in 2017, the project has faced numerous setbacks due to soaring costs, which ballooned from an initial estimate of around 455 million euros to over 780 million euros. After initial government opposition, a new financing agreement of 8.6 billion Norwegian kroner (approximately 782 million euros) was reached.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) is preparing for the next stages, with general director Einar Vik Arset stating readiness to initiate procedures for construction to begin in early 2027. With construction anticipated to take about five years, Norway aims to showcase its leadership in innovative and sustainable infrastructure. If successful, the Stad Ship Tunnel could become a spectacular 21st-century landmark, a passage where ships literally sail through a mountain.

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We are ready to initiate all necessary procedures at the beginning of 2027 so that construction can begin.